The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 112-107 at Target Center on December 19, 2025. Anthony Edwards hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 38.5 seconds left to seal the win. This Oklahoma City Thunder vs Minnesota Timberwolves match player stats breakdown covers the full box score, quarter scores, and top performers from a game that carried extra weight given the teams’ history in last season’s Western Conference finals.
The Thunder entered at 25-3, the best record in the league, while the Timberwolves sat at 18-10. Edwards played after missing three straight games with right foot soreness, and his return shifted the game in Minnesota’s favor down the stretch. Julius Randle’s missed free throw with 53 seconds left kept the margin at two points and set up Edwards for the deciding shot, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 35 points were not enough to prevent Oklahoma City’s third loss of the season.
Match Overview
| Date | Venue | Competition | Final Score | Records |
| December 19, 2025 | Target Center, Minneapolis, MN | NBA Regular Season | Timberwolves 112, Thunder 107 | OKC 25-3, MIN 18-10 |
Pre-Match Context
Oklahoma City came into the night having won its first NBA championship the previous spring and carrying a 24-1 start to the new season before back-to-back stumbles. A win would have restored their winning streak heading into the holiday break. Minnesota needed the result to prove it could beat a top contender without needing a playoff-length series, something it had not done since falling to the Thunder in five games in the 2025 Western Conference finals.
Edwards’ return from a foot injury was the biggest lineup change for either side, giving Minnesota back its leading scorer for the stretch run. Both teams were otherwise close to full strength, though Minnesota played without several reserves who did not see the floor.
Quarter by Quarter Score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
| Thunder | 33 | 18 | 34 | 22 | 107 |
| Timberwolves | 23 | 25 | 35 | 29 | 112 |
Quarter by Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter
Oklahoma City opened with its best quarter of the night, using early buckets from Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to build a 33-23 lead. Isaiah Joe and Luguentz Dort added three-pointers off the bench, and Ajay Mitchell closed the period with a driving layup at the buzzer. Minnesota coach Chris Finch was ejected midway through the quarter after arguing a non-call, and Gilgeous-Alexander converted both resulting technical free throws.
Second Quarter
Minnesota outscored Oklahoma City 25-18 to cut the deficit to 51-48 at halftime. Naz Reid and Bones Hyland provided a spark off the bench, combining for two three-pointers and a putback layup during the run. Donte DiVincenzo hit consecutive threes to keep the Wolves within range, and a Jaden McDaniels pullup jumper tied the score briefly before Oklahoma City closed the half narrowly ahead.
Third Quarter
Both teams traded leads through the third quarter, which Minnesota won 35-34. Anthony Edwards scored 8 points in the period, including a stepback jumper that put the Wolves up 65-72. Alex Caruso answered with a three-pointer and a cutting dunk for Oklahoma City, and the quarter ended with the Thunder ahead 85-83 heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
Minnesota outscored Oklahoma City 29-22 in the final period to complete the comeback. Naz Reid’s putback layup and free throw put the Wolves back in front, and the lead changed hands several times before Julius Randle’s three-pointer and Anthony Edwards’ driving layup tied the game at 100.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander answered with a stepback three to put OKC up 105-102, but Naz Reid and Anthony Edwards scored on consecutive possessions to tie it again. Julius Randle’s missed second free throw with 53 seconds left kept the margin at two, and Edwards buried the go-ahead three-pointer with 38.5 seconds remaining. Jaden McDaniels sealed it at the free-throw line in the final second.
Team Stats Comparison
| Stat | Thunder | Timberwolves |
| Field Goals | 34-92 (37.0%) | 33-88 (37.5%) |
| 3-Pointers | 11-39 (28.2%) | 13-37 (35.1%) |
| Free Throws | 28-30 (93.3%) | 33-47 (70.2%) |
| Rebounds | 60 | 71 |
| Assists | 16 | 20 |
Key Numbers That Decided the Game
The box score shows a game decided by the margins around the rim and at the free-throw line rather than shooting efficiency, since both teams shot in the mid-30s from the field.
- Minnesota out-rebounded Oklahoma City 71-60, including an 18-13 edge on the offensive glass.
- The Timberwolves attempted 17 more free throws than the Thunder, going 33-for-47 compared to 28-for-30.
- Oklahoma City made more three-pointers on fewer attempts but shot just 28.2 percent from deep against Minnesota’s 35.1 percent.
- Minnesota recorded 20 assists to Oklahoma City’s 16, reflecting a more ball-movement-heavy fourth quarter.
- The Thunder committed 30 personal fouls compared to 25 for the Wolves, part of a foul-heavy, stop-start game.
Full Box Score – Oklahoma City Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carried the offense with 35 points on 12-of-26 shooting to go with seven assists, but he got little scoring support from his frontcourt. Jalen Williams added 17 points and Chet Holmgren scored 14, while reserves Ajay Mitchell and Alex Caruso combined for 21 points off the bench. Isaiah Hartenstein grabbed 10 rebounds but managed just 1 point on the night.
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | FG | MIN |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 35 | 5 | 7 | 12/26 | 37 |
| Jalen Williams | 17 | 7 | 2 | 6/16 | 31 |
| Chet Holmgren | 14 | 5 | 0 | 4/9 | 24 |
| Luguentz Dort | 11 | 4 | 2 | 3/12 | 28 |
| Isaiah Hartenstein | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0/2 | 27 |
| Bench | PTS | REB | AST | FG | MIN |
| Ajay Mitchell | 14 | 2 | 2 | 5/10 | 22 |
| Alex Caruso | 7 | 12 | 1 | 2/7 | 22 |
| Isaiah Joe | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2/5 | 12 |
| Cason Wallace | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0/3 | 26 |
| Kenrich Williams | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0/2 | 5 |
Full Box Score – Minnesota Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards led all scorers on the home side with 26 points, 12 rebounds and the decisive late three-pointer in his first game back from injury. Julius Randle added 19 points and a game-high 5 assists among the starters despite a rough 3-of-15 shooting night, while Donte DiVincenzo and Naz Reid each scored 15. Rudy Gobert anchored the paint with 14 rebounds, and Bones Hyland chipped in 13 points off the bench.
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | FG | MIN |
| Anthony Edwards | 26 | 12 | 3 | 9/20 | 40 |
| Julius Randle | 19 | 8 | 5 | 3/15 | 32 |
| Donte DiVincenzo | 15 | 4 | 1 | 5/12 | 33 |
| Jaden McDaniels | 13 | 4 | 2 | 4/13 | 37 |
| Rudy Gobert | 9 | 14 | 1 | 3/7 | 33 |
| Bench | PTS | REB | AST | FG | MIN |
| Naz Reid | 15 | 6 | 2 | 5/10 | 31 |
| Bones Hyland | 13 | 3 | 3 | 4/7 | 16 |
| Rob Dillingham | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0/4 | 12 |
| Terrence Shannon Jr. | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 5 |
Game Leaders / Top Performers
Anthony Edwards was the difference-maker after missing three games, closing with 26 points, 12 rebounds and the winning shot in crunch time. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander outscored him with 35 points and seven assists but could not get enough help from his supporting cast down the stretch. Julius Randle’s playmaking stood out even on an off shooting night, and Naz Reid’s 15 points off the bench kept Minnesota afloat through a rough shooting first half for the Wolves.
| Player | Team | PTS | REB | AST |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | OKC | 35 | 5 | 7 |
| Anthony Edwards | MIN | 26 | 12 | 3 |
| Julius Randle | MIN | 19 | 8 | 5 |
Starting Lineups
| Position | Thunder | Timberwolves |
| Guard | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Anthony Edwards |
| Guard/Forward | Luguentz Dort | Donte DiVincenzo |
| Forward | Jalen Williams | Jaden McDaniels |
| Forward/Center | Chet Holmgren | Julius Randle |
| Center | Isaiah Hartenstein | Rudy Gobert |
Injury Report
| Player | Injury | Status |
| Anthony Edwards | Right foot soreness | Returned, played 40 minutes |
| Nikola Topić | Undisclosed | Out (OKC) |
| Thomas Sorber | Undisclosed | Out (OKC) |
| Mike Conley | Undisclosed | Out (MIN) |
| Jaylen Clark | Undisclosed | Out (MIN) |
Edwards’ return was the headline absence turned presence of the night. He had missed the previous three games managing soreness in his right foot and played the full workload in his first game back, finishing as the game’s leading rebounder and delivering the decisive shot. Neither team was otherwise missing a rotation piece significant enough to alter the game plan.
Season Series and Head to Head
Minnesota’s win evened the season series after Oklahoma City had taken the earlier meeting on November 26, 2025, an NBA Cup game the Thunder won 113-105 behind 40 points from Gilgeous-Alexander. The two teams also met in the 2025 Western Conference finals, which Oklahoma City won in five games on its way to the championship.
| Date | Result |
| November 26, 2025 | Thunder 113, Timberwolves 105 |
| December 19, 2025 | Timberwolves 112, Thunder 107 |
| May 2025 (WCF, 5 games) | Thunder won series 4-1 |
Conference Standings
Oklahoma City held the NBA’s best record at 25-3 entering the game, while Minnesota sat comfortably inside playoff position in the Western Conference at 18-10. The Thunder went on to finish the 2025-26 regular season atop the West at 64-18.
| Team | Record (as of Dec 19, 2025) |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 25-3 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 18-10 |
Broadcast and Stream Information
| Broadcast | Details |
| National TV | Amazon Prime Video |
| Local (OKC) | Regional sports coverage |
| Local (MIN) | Regional sports coverage |
Who won the Thunder vs Timberwolves game on December 19, 2025?
The Minnesota Timberwolves won 112-107 at home, snapping a stretch where Oklahoma City had dominated most opponents through the season’s first three months.
How many points did Anthony Edwards score in his return from injury?
Anthony Edwards scored 26 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and hit the go-ahead three-pointer in his first game back after missing three games with foot soreness.
What was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s stat line in the loss?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 35 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists on 12-of-26 shooting in the defeat.
Did the Timberwolves sweep the season series against the Thunder?
No, the season series was split after this game. Oklahoma City won the first meeting in November, and Minnesota won this rematch in December.
Why was Timberwolves coach Chris Finch ejected during the game?
Chris Finch was ejected in the first quarter after arguing a non-call with officials, drawing back-to-back technical fouls.
How many rebounds did Rudy Gobert have in the game?
Rudy Gobert finished with 14 rebounds and 9 points in 33 minutes for the Timberwolves.
Where was the Thunder vs Timberwolves game played?
The game was played at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in front of an announced crowd of 18,978.
Conclusion
Minnesota’s comeback win showed the Timberwolves can beat a championship-level opponent without needing a full playoff series, a question that lingered after last season’s conference finals loss. For Oklahoma City, the defeat was only its third of the season and did little to change its status as the league’s top team, but it exposed how thin the scoring margin gets when Gilgeous-Alexander does not get consistent secondary scoring. Anthony Edwards’ return gave Minnesota its closer back at the right moment, and his performance should reinforce his role in clutch situations going forward. Both teams headed into the holiday stretch with the Thunder hosting Memphis and the Timberwolves hosting Milwaukee, looking to build on or bounce back from this result.
